LIFE AT İTK

Culture

At İTK, institutional culture reflects the spirit of Türk Koleji and brings the concept of “Being an İTK Student” to life.

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One of the core elements of this identity is the rich tradition of cultural activities, which have been an integral part of our students’ educational journey since 1950.

At Türk Koleji, cultural activities are offered across a wide spectrum. Within our educational approach, students are introduced both to our national culture and to world cultures, as required by the 21st century. We aim for our students to recognize the value that cultural heritage brings to society, to embrace this heritage, and to internalize an awareness of cultural continuity. Through cultural experiences, students develop respect and empathy, and come to see cultural diversity as a true enrichment.

Cultural activities for our students include conferences, talks, career events, cultural trips, foreign language learning, and various knowledge- and project-based competitions. Throughout the academic year, events organized by our department heads, International Education Unit, and Psychological Counseling and Guidance Unit bring students together with experts in their fields in our conference halls.

Through local and national trips, our students explore the geographical and historical richness of our country and internalize cultural diversity through firsthand experience. Events such as Turkish Day and *My Grandmother’s Dowry Chest* help students recognize and develop awareness of their own cultural heritage. This awareness is not limited to the national level; we also place great importance on enriching students’ cultural knowledge internationally. Our strong emphasis on foreign language education enables direct communication with different cultures. Through international education programs and overseas trips, students have the opportunity to observe the lifestyles, histories and cultures of other societies firsthand. In this way, they learn to recognize cultural similarities and differences, develop themselves, and build healthy intercultural relationships.

As part of our foreign language and cultural studies, students participate in prestigious events such as Model United Nations (MUN) and Junior Model United Nations (JMUN). In these simulations, they portray young diplomats seeking solutions to global issues while enhancing their English speaking and self-expression skills. Through these activities, students develop communication and public speaking abilities, critical thinking skills, general knowledge and awareness of world affairs, as well as academic and social competencies.

Alongside their academic achievements, our students graduate with intellectual depth. Through debate clubs, philosophy workshops and creative writing activities, we support the development of their thinking and reasoning skills. By strengthening their ability to build, support and present arguments, our students grow into individuals who read, research and confidently defend their own ideas with an appropriate and effective style. This is one of the most significant outcomes of the Türk Koleji educational approach.

Since our establishment, we have been involved in social responsibility projects together with our students, contributing to the environment and to disadvantaged groups. Through what they accomplish, our students learn sharing, togetherness, solidarity and the sense of “we,” and we raise young people who contribute positively to society.

Uşakizade Mansion, a significant cultural heritage site that served for many years as an educational building in our institution’s deep-rooted history and continues to welcome visitors today, became a cornerstone of our institutional culture when it began to be used as Türk Koleji’s school building in 1951. Having served as the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, it carries one of the most important symbols of our Republic’s history into the present day. Today, by holding our students’ graduation ceremonies on the steps of this historic building, we continue to send them into the future with the strength we draw from the past.